Chess pieces overturned

At college

"Seb?.....Seb?.....SEB??? Are you listening?", Erica yelled finally.

"Huh-uh....yes? I'm", Seb replied distracted. She wasn't at all concentrating on what Erica was teaching her. Her mind was hovering around.

It was lost in thoughts,.....about the strange morning encounter. Seb never imagined that the place which she visited regularly would turn out to be the place where she was held captive, Iven's hideout base. And in her dreams she never thought that she would meet him again!

"Seb, what's wrong with you today?", Erica was pissed.

"Say Eric...", Seb said,"...are wishes so powerful that they are bound to come true??", she asked, thinking how strong her subconscious wish can be which wasn't even worth taking seriously.

"What?", Erica fell from space,"Are you out of your mind??".

"No!", Seb replied lost,"Just a mere thought, You know, they say".

Erica took her time to understand well the absurd question. Seb has the habit of dropping a very deep but weird question once in a while which Erica has to research well to find the answer. Else until then, Seb will be totally spaced out. She replied, choosing her words carefully,"It depends, on how much your positivism is and how much you have belief and hope for your wish to come true", the answer was twice as absurd as the question, but Erica didn't find anything better.

But Seb maybe was satisfied. "I see", she said and nodded,"Then....am I a very optimistic person?"

"I have no clue what's cooking in your head Seb", Erica sighed,"But I think you won't pay any attention now. So look here, I've written all the necessary formulas. Mug them up and.....".

Seb was half listening or not at all. She was still thinking of Iven and why did he let her go away so easily on their second sudden encounter? The duality of this man is unbelievable!!!

Morning 5:00

The alarm rang with full force. Seb turned it off and was about to get up when something struck her mind.

Why to go this early? She thought, 6:00 am will be just fine. I'll be able to sleep one more hour and also.....

At 6:00 am

Seb was up without any more lethargy at the decided time. She was little excited. The reason was herself unknown.

Was she getting interested in the person who treated her with so much cruelty? He's capable of doing it again. He's dangerous to be around. But then, why Seb wants to meet him again so bad?

Is it because of his charms, his looks, his way of expressing attitude? Not possible, Seb is immune to those stuffs. Then what?

Seb kept thinking these all when she exited her house. Somehow, she made herself turn out such a way, that she wished to see him again. Is he that unpredictable?

On the designated place, Ichi,Dwi,Trio,Tet and Pentan were already present. Seb knew that even Rikki will show up sooner or later, unless Iven didn't let the poor thing come at all!

Seb sighed and attended her dogs. They, on the other hand, were beaming with joy to see her as usual. At least they appreciate my presence, Seb smiled. But then, she saw something which lit up her smile.

Rikki was dashing towards her with her small limbs. But Iven wasn't nearby. Seb didn't bother. That guy seemed rather protective of Rikki. He's bound to appear sooner or later.

Rikki approached and stood helpless, unable to find any way to Seb due to the huge dogs who already surrounded her. She ran from one side to another. She woofed once in a light tone. All of the dogs turned around at once to check. In a moment they created space for her. Seb smiled at their change in conduct due to a female presence. Dwi bent once and licked her nose and Pentan poked her tail playfully once. They all acted differently towards the new member. They were treating her like protective brothers. Even Rikki enjoyed their company.

With a corner of her eye, Seb caught the presence she was expecting. He wasn't approaching but was standing near enough to be noticed, throwing glances. Probably, he didn't like the dogs which Seb had for company. Seb chuckled to herself once but pretended not to see.

Then after a while when she realized that Iven was losing patience, she looked at him and pretended to be surprised. Leaving the dogs on their own, she approached him unafraid. He had received his warning earlier that day. He won't try anything funny, Seb knew that well.

Clearly he felt annoyed when she approached him. His tched once.

"You're here again today???", he had warned Seb not to cross paths again, so she was insulting her threat.

"So are you!", Seb shot back.

-I have been coming here every single day.

-So do I.

-Don't lie!!! I've never seen you before.

-So have I.

"Will you stop that!!!", Iven's voice was sour,"And please, keep your stray pets away from Rikki!!! She'll get infected", he expressed disgust.s

"Did I force her to go and mess with them?", Seb wasn't at all amused when her friends were called stray pests.

Iven didn't proceed further.

Her boldness was beyond limit to talk to him like that. Did she forget what did she undergo? She is not the same fragile girl from before.

"Did you forget what I did to you?", Iven smirked,"Your bruises still persists and you have the guts to tempt me with that voice?".

"The girl you abused was injured and drugged", Seb backfired,"Today she is totally different. She would have been the same if you wouldn't have played dirty!".

"You appear the same", Iven mocked,"Weak, fragile and broken. You're too puny to take on by myself".

And Seb was provoked,"Try me, now!!! You'll be cleared of your mistake", she imposed a direct challenge.

"Don't call on things you can't handle", Iven grinned,"Because I won't hold back".

"Who said you to?", Seb said raising her eyebrow.

"I'm not showing any mercy", Iven let her know,"I'm always in when it comes to fights, and you gave me an open invitation".

"Who's gonna show mercy on YOU???", Seb broke through her words rapidly.

Iven started fuming. Within a blink of eye, he charged like a wild wolf at Seb. Seb smirked, impressive speed, she thought, but not enough for me!!!

In a second, Iven stood clueless on the spot where Seb was standing earlier, clutching at nothing but air. Where'd she go?

A whistle made him turn and he found Seb just right behind him, grinning. How did she get there so fast? What is she? Iven tried to get her hands on her again, but Seb effortlessly slipped out of his grasp. She sighed on him.

Iven had highly underestimated her. He became more cautious as his rage rose. After the same act happened again and again, he lost his wits. He was exhausted. And that was Seb's oldest strategies. She decided to payback his debts and put an end to the duel. She'll give him back what he deserved.

Once again, Iven launched himself at her. Seb didn't show any sign of escape which gave him high hopes. As soon as he was near, Seb suddenly ducked and completely vanished from his sight.

Before Iven could even learn the situation and prepare himself for the next move, Seb raised her head from his back without a hint of sound.

"Check...Mate!!!", she whispered coldly in his ears and within an instant, Iven found himself overthrown on the concrete roughly.

Was she always this strong?...that she just defeated a guy? Iven couldn't do anything but gape foolishly. she was incredible enough to defeat him without moving a finger!!! Was she that weak earlier that she couldn't protest her violation? if she could, Iven would have been with broken bones till then.

"Game over!!!", Seb snapped her fingers. Iven's attitude was smashed into nothingness.

Seb thought that Iven would get furious, get up and challenge for another combat....but nothing such happened.

He kept looking down, still on the earth, trying to figure the moment out.

Seb wanted to make fun of him and mock him, but she eliminated the idea.

Somehow, unknowingly, she felt pity!

Instead of leaving after proving her worth, she led out a hand to him,"So, was i the same from before? Did I change your mind?", she smiled lightly, gesturing him to take the hand.

Iven looked up more clueless than before,"Why the hell are you acting like this?", he asked,"You beat me, so go on, mock me all you want!!!'

Seb sighed."Just because.....", she said,"...you did the same".

Now Iven was totally blank. He had no words to answer to this. Seb shook her hand once, gaining his attention and asking him to take it and get up.

Iven hesitated. But some unknown powerful force pushed him forward and made him take the hand.

Seb pulled him up and smiled. Iven couldn't return the same.

Without saying anything more, Seb started to turn aroynd and leave.

Halfway through the parapet, a miraculous call stopped her, "Heyy!!! What's your name?", Iven didn't know why he asked for it.

But Seb couldn't believe her ears.

Iven just did something on his own which was never expected.

Was this defeat really necessary to cause him to change so drastically?

Seb didn't say anything. Iven waited.

Finally she turned back. A naughty smile on her lips. "That won't be necessary", she said and departed before he could say anything else. Let him suffer that.

Iven stood there with his mouth open, tasting the bitterness of his own medicine.